Can you stream Spotify from your HomePod?

Don't check out on me just yet, let me explain. As I said, you can't stream Spotify, TIDAL, or any other music service directly from the HomePod but you can totally stream to the HomePod via AirPlay. So, while you won't be able to ask the smart speaker to start your music or request specific tunes from DJ Siri, you can start playing music from your phone, connect through AirPlay, and still have Siri perform basic play/pause/skip functions with your voice.All you have to do is make sure the Apple device you're playing from is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your HomePod, make sure the Bluetooth is on, launch your preferred streaming service, in this case, it's Spotify, and start playing your favorite track. Once the track is playing, you can then choose your HomePod speaker from the "Devices Available" list in the app. If you were already playing music from Spotify, you can simply slide up to access your Control Center, open the music widget, tap the AirPlay icon in the upper right corner of the widget, and then select your HomePod.

Spotlight

Rainmaker Entertainment Inc

We're a creatively collaborative, full service CG animation studio in Vancouver Canada with an innovative history that spans over 19 years. Originally established as Mainframe Entertainment, the award winning CG company was acquired in 2006 by one of Vancouver's most well known entertainment businesses to become Rainmaker Entertainment.

OTHER ARTICLES
Solutions, Business

Netflix versus Amazon Prime Video – depth versus breadth

Article | July 7, 2022

The first half of 2021 has been a year of continued change and disruption for subscription video. The global incumbent subscription video on demand (SVOD) leaders, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, have been busy signalling to the financial markets how they intend to entrench their market dominance in light of the ongoing market acquisition pushes unleashed by the D2C disruptors following the D2C ‘big bang’ moment of Q4 2019 – Q2 2021. Netflix announced in January that it was no longer going to borrow on the financial markets to fund its day-to-day operations – specifically for its content acquisition budget, which is now driven predominately by commissioning original content for its service. This leaves the SVOD leader with $14.9 billion of outstanding long-term debt to service as it seeks to live within its means by commissioning future content from its ongoing cashflow. In Q1 2021 alone Netflix spent $500 million on servicing this debt pile versus $1.7 billion in net income generated over the same period.

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Virtualization

3 Applications of AI in the Entertainment Industry

Article | June 21, 2021

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) in the entertainment industry has automated time-consuming mundane tasks and increased proficiency in delivering winning content to drive engagement. Production businesses can make informed decisions on marketing and advertising because AI can examine critical data and provide important insights into consumer behavior. Let us look at three other important applications of AI in the entertainment industry: Content Personalization Made Easy Streaming websites like Spotify and Netflix contribute content that attracts a diverse audience with different tastes and choices. They are adopting AI and machine learning algorithms to analyze individual user performance and demographics to promote content that users are interested in. Such personalized content recommendations create audience engagement. AI also helps optimize video quality based on how fast the internet is in a certain place so that streaming works without buffering. Streamlined Movie Production Processes The movie production process is time-consuming and complex. Using AI can help automate processes like sound production, storyboarding, scheduling, and pre-production tasks. It can also automatically sync and group filmed clips. Machine learning has graphics and visual effects that can be used to make fictional characters look better. Subtitle Generation for International Communications Content publishing businesses need to cater to an audience from various regions. Multilingual subtitles make this interaction easier. Manual transcription is time-consuming and requires expensive human resources that businesses cannot afford. Also, human error and variable efficiency are issues that can tamper with customer experience. Any kind of delay in presenting subtitles can put the audio-video-subtitles out of sync. AI prevents such mishaps through speech and vocabulary integration in conversations using neural interfaces. Last Words Apart from the implementation of AI in entertainment, the development of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) apps will make the customer experience immersive and captivating. Moreover, AI-based chatbots can be used for promotional operations for books, films, artists, and TV shows. Platforms in the entertainment sector involve AI to efficiently enhance user engagement and production rates.

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Technologies, Virtualization

FILM PRODUCERS FLIP BARGAINING TABLE WITH UNIONIZING EFFORT

Article | August 2, 2022

Movie producers often find themselves negotiating with talent and crew members, and/or their production union representatives, over pay and benefits. But a group of 108 producers flipped the script Thursday in announcing they were looking to form a union of their own.Higher minimum pay and health benefits were cited as the two major reasons. While the group, called the Producers Union, boasts some heavy hitters such as Chris Moore (Manchester by the Sea) and Rebecca Green (It Follows), they made it clear that the traditional image of a Hollywood producer is misleading. Many are just getting by, project to project, looking for a breakout hit to up their quote. According to a survey released this year, 41% of producers made less than $25,000 in the pre-pandemic boom times of 2019. The Producers Union has developed a constitution with provisions for dues and diversity initiatives, with the aim of eventually negotiating a collective bargaining agreement with distributors and other film financiers. Previous efforts by producers to unionize have been thwarted by the courts and the National Labor Relations Board, according to Variety, as the NLRB saw them as supervisors and employers – which creates a high barrier to organizing.

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Virtualization, Media and Broadcasting

B2B Movie Placements: What to Expect?

Article | July 13, 2022

As films evolved into the popular medium that they are today, brands followed suit. They took advantage of a large network of new ways to market, from print media to radio to television. Product placement, a part of branded entertainment marketing, became more common from the 1980s. Today, every moviegoer is familiar – sometimes painfully – with paid product placements. And every marketer has heard commentary on both good and bad B2C product placements. But what about B2B movie placements? Ever heard of those? If you are a B2B enterprise looking to try it out, here are some major differences between B2C and B2B movie placements: Impress the producers Create an enticing pitch for the producers, which can influence them enough to bring them to the creative department. Sell your brand or product to them (indirectly) to help them understand how it will improve the realism of their scene or set. Make them realize how your product or service can help them. Placement isn’t always ‘placement’ Prospective B2B buyers aren’t going to squint their eyes to find your product while watching a movie. However, they might actually remember your brand if you host pre-opening events around the world for them and their families to watch a popular movie. If they enjoy the movie and establish an emotional connection with it, they will definitely think of you while making any kind of purchase decision. Things might not work out No matter how hard you try to show your brand in a good light in a certain scene or situation, sometimes things happen that you can't control or ignore. In such cases, you might have to get all the branding out instead of settling for negative publicity, which could be a viable option for a B2C brand. B2B Movie Placement: A Success Story FLIR, a client of Hollywood Branded, is the leading provider of thermal military camera equipment. It co-starred in one of Warner Brothers' biggest hits of 2018, Rampage. FLIR connected with the right member of the production team and ensured that the brand was pictured in a positive light. FLIR shared its technology with the filmmakers and got advertised to its business customers, mostly film-loving decision-makers, through the movie and the way it was shot. The film earned $427M at the worldwide box office.

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Spotlight

Rainmaker Entertainment Inc

We're a creatively collaborative, full service CG animation studio in Vancouver Canada with an innovative history that spans over 19 years. Originally established as Mainframe Entertainment, the award winning CG company was acquired in 2006 by one of Vancouver's most well known entertainment businesses to become Rainmaker Entertainment.

Related News

Applications

ComingSoon Expands Entertainment News Coverage

PR Newswire | October 05, 2023

Evolve Media LLC, a passion-based publisher of some of the most influential internet brands since 1996, announced that its marquee entertainment site ComingSoon is continuing to grow and expand its coverage areas. ComingSoon will expand to new coverage areas, including Bollywood With traffic up 79 percent since April 2023, ComingSoon is expanding in order to continue its rapid growth since a redesign was launched in December 2022. The site is now broadening its entertainment coverage into new areas, including Indian films and television, Korean dramas, reality television, documentaries, and true crime. All of these new verticals will be easily accessible in the site's revamped navigation bar as coverage is rolled out. ComingSoon will also further commit resources to delivering top-notch anime, documentary and horror coverage, which have become key elements of the entertainment site. It will also continue to produce top-quality features and reviews that are just as engaging as they are informative, while also conducting interviews with some of Hollywood's biggest directors and stars. "Our goal is to make ComingSoon a one-stop destination for media consumers all over the world," said Todd Jacobs, Director of Content & Operations at Evolve Media. "With these strategic investments, ComingSoon will exponentially expand their global audience." "Thanks to streaming, we've seen entertainment around the globe become pop culture phenomenons," said Tyler Treese, Frontpage Editorial Manager of Evolve Media's Entertainment and Gaming Division. "International hits like Squid Game and Jawan have shown that Korea and India are producing incredible content, while anime continues to grow in popularity. We'll finally be able to cover these areas with the news coverage they deserve, and help fans figure out the next show to binge or what film to invite their friends over to watch." About Evolve Media, LLC Evolve Media is a premium publisher of leading enthusiast destinations for influential men and women. Leveraging proprietary advertising and publishing technologies, as well as hundreds of talented content professionals, Evolve Media offers premium and engaging content to its readers, while offering marketers the tools needed to execute custom, content-led marketing solutions that reach its audience of over 78 million people globally each month.

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Technologies, Media and Broadcasting

HyperX in Collaboration with Influencer Valkyrae Announces Third HX3D Personalized Keycap

Businesswire | May 15, 2023

HyperX, the gaming peripherals team at HP Inc. and brand leader in gaming and esports, today announced the HyperX x Valkyrae Limited Edition Keycap – Mika the Shiba will be available starting Friday, May 19. As the third HX3D personalized keycap drop, the HyperX x Valkyrae Limited Edition Keycap features a unique and adorable design inspired by Valkyrae's furry friend Mika. As a must-have for gamers and fans of Valkyrae and Shiba Inu dogs alike, this personalized keycap demonstrates HyperX’s continued commitment to innovation and collaboration within the gaming community. As the inspiration behind the HyperX x Valkyrae Limited Edition Keycap, Mika the Shiba Inu is now a fun keyboard accent or collectable and forever keepsake. Involved in every step of the design process and showcasing her personal touch, Valkyrae worked closely with the HyperX team to create the keycap to be included in the HyperX HX3D collection. The keycap features Mika holding a dagger in his mouth symbolizing Valkyrae’s love for swords and a red collar – a nod to 100 Thieves. “I loved bringing Mika to life as a 3D keycap with HyperX,” said Valkyrae, HyperX ambassador and influencer. " I can’t wait for everyone to see what we’ve created.” Collaborating with game developers, esports teams, content creators, influencers, and internal creative teams, HyperX plans to continue to deliver fan-friendly 3D personalized products that can be used while gaming or collected as keepsakes or cherished collectibles. HX3D 3D printed products are produced on HP Inc. 3D printers as part of the growing cooperation with HP Inc., leveraging their experience and bringing synergy, innovation and color printing skills to gaming. HyperX’s personalization products are manufactured using re-used powder nylon. Availability The HyperX x Valkyrae Limited Edition Keycap – Mika the Shiba – will be available in the U.S. only through HyperX.com starting Friday, May 19, at 9 a.m. PDT at Hyperx.com for 48 hours or until supplies last. The price for this keycap is $19.99. Be sure to catch Valkyrae’s “best friend” before Mika is gone. Once the HyperX limited edition keycaps are sold out, they won’t be available again. For more information, please visit the HX3D product page. Pricing from HyperX.com is subject to change without notice. Retailers’ pricing may vary. About HyperX For 20 years, HyperX’s mission has been to develop gaming solutions for every type of gamer and the company is consistently recognized for delivering products that provide superb comfort, aesthetics, performance, and reliability. Under the tagline of “WE’RE ALL GAMERS,” HyperX gaming headsets, keyboards, mice, USB microphones, and console accessories are the choice of everyday gamers as well as celebrity ambassadors, pro gamers, tech enthusiasts, streamers, and influencers. Visit www.hyperx.com. About HP HP Inc. is a technology company that believes one thoughtful idea has the power to change the world. Its product and service portfolio of personal systems, printers, and 3D printing solutions helps bring these ideas to life. Visit http://www.hp.com. Editor’s Note: For additional information or executive interviews, please contact Mark Tekunoff, HP Inc., 17600 Newhope Street, Fountain Valley, CA USA 92708, mark.tekunoff@hyperx.com or Hyperx_PR@hyperx.com. HyperX and the HyperX logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of HP Inc.in the U.S. and/or other countries. All registered trademarks and trademarks are property of their respective owners.

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Technologies, Solutions

Varnish Software Achieves 1.3 Tbps Per Server Throughput at 1.17 Gbps Per Watt

Varnish Software | February 23, 2023

On February 22, 2023, Varnish Software, a leader in video streaming, online caching, and content delivery software, revealed new performance benchmarks for content delivery that set new records. With the help of Intel and Supermicro, a single 1,120-watt Edge server could handle more than 1.3 Tbps of throughput, equivalent to 1.17 Gbps per watt. Varnish Enterprise 6.0 was deployed on a Supermicro 2U CloudDC server powered by 4th Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors without the need for additional-cost SSL offload cards. Supermicro's 1U and 2U CloudDC servers are optimized for private and public clouds and come with single or dual processors, an all-inclusive server with the best cost-to-optimized-performance ratio. These servers are optimized for balancing CPU, memory, storage, expansion, and networking. In addition, each server offers PCI-Express Gen 5 x8 and x16 expansion slots for the latest PCI cards. "Achieving over 1 Tbps in a single Edge server is a major leap forward for the industry, and critical for delivering the next generation of video and digital experiences," said Frank Miller, CTO of Varnish Software. (Source –Cision PRWeb) Michael McNerney, Vice President, Marketing and Network Security at Supermicro, added, "We deliver first-to-market innovations and IT Solutions that are environmentally friendly and fit every organization's objectives and budget." (Source –Cision PRWeb) Notably, this benchmark's throughput and energy efficiency can be used with different servers, depending on what the customers want. Varnish anticipates collaborating with key partners - Intel and Supermicro on systems that support a broad range of video and content delivery workloads by leveraging cost-effective system footprints and energy efficiency. About Varnish Software Varnish Software is a pioneer in high-performance content delivery. Its powerful caching technology helps the world's biggest content providers deliver lightning-fast web and streaming experiences for huge audiences without downtime or loss of performance. With over 10 million deployments, the technology is relied on by millions of websites worldwide across every industry, including Hulu, Emirates, and Tesla. Powered by uniquely flexible caching technology, its solutions are the common denominator among the world's most popular brands.

Read More

Applications

ComingSoon Expands Entertainment News Coverage

PR Newswire | October 05, 2023

Evolve Media LLC, a passion-based publisher of some of the most influential internet brands since 1996, announced that its marquee entertainment site ComingSoon is continuing to grow and expand its coverage areas. ComingSoon will expand to new coverage areas, including Bollywood With traffic up 79 percent since April 2023, ComingSoon is expanding in order to continue its rapid growth since a redesign was launched in December 2022. The site is now broadening its entertainment coverage into new areas, including Indian films and television, Korean dramas, reality television, documentaries, and true crime. All of these new verticals will be easily accessible in the site's revamped navigation bar as coverage is rolled out. ComingSoon will also further commit resources to delivering top-notch anime, documentary and horror coverage, which have become key elements of the entertainment site. It will also continue to produce top-quality features and reviews that are just as engaging as they are informative, while also conducting interviews with some of Hollywood's biggest directors and stars. "Our goal is to make ComingSoon a one-stop destination for media consumers all over the world," said Todd Jacobs, Director of Content & Operations at Evolve Media. "With these strategic investments, ComingSoon will exponentially expand their global audience." "Thanks to streaming, we've seen entertainment around the globe become pop culture phenomenons," said Tyler Treese, Frontpage Editorial Manager of Evolve Media's Entertainment and Gaming Division. "International hits like Squid Game and Jawan have shown that Korea and India are producing incredible content, while anime continues to grow in popularity. We'll finally be able to cover these areas with the news coverage they deserve, and help fans figure out the next show to binge or what film to invite their friends over to watch." About Evolve Media, LLC Evolve Media is a premium publisher of leading enthusiast destinations for influential men and women. Leveraging proprietary advertising and publishing technologies, as well as hundreds of talented content professionals, Evolve Media offers premium and engaging content to its readers, while offering marketers the tools needed to execute custom, content-led marketing solutions that reach its audience of over 78 million people globally each month.

Read More

Technologies, Media and Broadcasting

HyperX in Collaboration with Influencer Valkyrae Announces Third HX3D Personalized Keycap

Businesswire | May 15, 2023

HyperX, the gaming peripherals team at HP Inc. and brand leader in gaming and esports, today announced the HyperX x Valkyrae Limited Edition Keycap – Mika the Shiba will be available starting Friday, May 19. As the third HX3D personalized keycap drop, the HyperX x Valkyrae Limited Edition Keycap features a unique and adorable design inspired by Valkyrae's furry friend Mika. As a must-have for gamers and fans of Valkyrae and Shiba Inu dogs alike, this personalized keycap demonstrates HyperX’s continued commitment to innovation and collaboration within the gaming community. As the inspiration behind the HyperX x Valkyrae Limited Edition Keycap, Mika the Shiba Inu is now a fun keyboard accent or collectable and forever keepsake. Involved in every step of the design process and showcasing her personal touch, Valkyrae worked closely with the HyperX team to create the keycap to be included in the HyperX HX3D collection. The keycap features Mika holding a dagger in his mouth symbolizing Valkyrae’s love for swords and a red collar – a nod to 100 Thieves. “I loved bringing Mika to life as a 3D keycap with HyperX,” said Valkyrae, HyperX ambassador and influencer. " I can’t wait for everyone to see what we’ve created.” Collaborating with game developers, esports teams, content creators, influencers, and internal creative teams, HyperX plans to continue to deliver fan-friendly 3D personalized products that can be used while gaming or collected as keepsakes or cherished collectibles. HX3D 3D printed products are produced on HP Inc. 3D printers as part of the growing cooperation with HP Inc., leveraging their experience and bringing synergy, innovation and color printing skills to gaming. HyperX’s personalization products are manufactured using re-used powder nylon. Availability The HyperX x Valkyrae Limited Edition Keycap – Mika the Shiba – will be available in the U.S. only through HyperX.com starting Friday, May 19, at 9 a.m. PDT at Hyperx.com for 48 hours or until supplies last. The price for this keycap is $19.99. Be sure to catch Valkyrae’s “best friend” before Mika is gone. Once the HyperX limited edition keycaps are sold out, they won’t be available again. For more information, please visit the HX3D product page. Pricing from HyperX.com is subject to change without notice. Retailers’ pricing may vary. About HyperX For 20 years, HyperX’s mission has been to develop gaming solutions for every type of gamer and the company is consistently recognized for delivering products that provide superb comfort, aesthetics, performance, and reliability. Under the tagline of “WE’RE ALL GAMERS,” HyperX gaming headsets, keyboards, mice, USB microphones, and console accessories are the choice of everyday gamers as well as celebrity ambassadors, pro gamers, tech enthusiasts, streamers, and influencers. Visit www.hyperx.com. About HP HP Inc. is a technology company that believes one thoughtful idea has the power to change the world. Its product and service portfolio of personal systems, printers, and 3D printing solutions helps bring these ideas to life. Visit http://www.hp.com. Editor’s Note: For additional information or executive interviews, please contact Mark Tekunoff, HP Inc., 17600 Newhope Street, Fountain Valley, CA USA 92708, mark.tekunoff@hyperx.com or Hyperx_PR@hyperx.com. HyperX and the HyperX logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of HP Inc.in the U.S. and/or other countries. All registered trademarks and trademarks are property of their respective owners.

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Technologies, Solutions

Varnish Software Achieves 1.3 Tbps Per Server Throughput at 1.17 Gbps Per Watt

Varnish Software | February 23, 2023

On February 22, 2023, Varnish Software, a leader in video streaming, online caching, and content delivery software, revealed new performance benchmarks for content delivery that set new records. With the help of Intel and Supermicro, a single 1,120-watt Edge server could handle more than 1.3 Tbps of throughput, equivalent to 1.17 Gbps per watt. Varnish Enterprise 6.0 was deployed on a Supermicro 2U CloudDC server powered by 4th Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors without the need for additional-cost SSL offload cards. Supermicro's 1U and 2U CloudDC servers are optimized for private and public clouds and come with single or dual processors, an all-inclusive server with the best cost-to-optimized-performance ratio. These servers are optimized for balancing CPU, memory, storage, expansion, and networking. In addition, each server offers PCI-Express Gen 5 x8 and x16 expansion slots for the latest PCI cards. "Achieving over 1 Tbps in a single Edge server is a major leap forward for the industry, and critical for delivering the next generation of video and digital experiences," said Frank Miller, CTO of Varnish Software. (Source –Cision PRWeb) Michael McNerney, Vice President, Marketing and Network Security at Supermicro, added, "We deliver first-to-market innovations and IT Solutions that are environmentally friendly and fit every organization's objectives and budget." (Source –Cision PRWeb) Notably, this benchmark's throughput and energy efficiency can be used with different servers, depending on what the customers want. Varnish anticipates collaborating with key partners - Intel and Supermicro on systems that support a broad range of video and content delivery workloads by leveraging cost-effective system footprints and energy efficiency. About Varnish Software Varnish Software is a pioneer in high-performance content delivery. Its powerful caching technology helps the world's biggest content providers deliver lightning-fast web and streaming experiences for huge audiences without downtime or loss of performance. With over 10 million deployments, the technology is relied on by millions of websites worldwide across every industry, including Hulu, Emirates, and Tesla. Powered by uniquely flexible caching technology, its solutions are the common denominator among the world's most popular brands.

Read More

Events